Just The Way It Is? Report

The Just The Way It Is Report

Just the Way It Is? reveals how unsafe environments, discrimination and exploitation continue to shape the experiences of young people working across the music industries, with marginalised creatives most affected.

Drawing on testimonies from around 70 young people (taken from a mix of 19 in-depth focus groups and a social media snap poll), we highlight the gaps in knowledge, understanding and everyday practice that leave them without the safety and support they deserve, and show that these experiences are far from isolated.

Above all, we want this report to give the music community the clarity and confidence needed to help create safer, fairer spaces where the next generation can truly thrive.

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"When I was 19, I had no awareness of the normalised harm young people face in the music industry,” says artist Victoria Canal, whose early-career experiences included harassment, exploitation, disability discrimination and being groomed by a much older artist while on tour. “And though everyone else on the tour knew exactly the position I was in - management, crew, band included - they’d signed NDAs and were afraid of losing their jobs. The message was clear - don’t speak up, or your career is over before it’s begun.”

HOW IS HARM EXPERIENCED?

If we want a safer, more inclusive music industry, we need to understand how harm is happening and what’s allowing it to continue.

The infrastructure, cultures and working practices within the music industries means that these harms often go unchallenged and become normalised.

The young creatives we interviewed described harm in many forms, and clear patterns began to emerge. We’ve grouped these enabling conditions into five clear themes.

Low and no pay

Unsafe work environments

Discrimination and harassment

Informal and exploitative cultures

Barriers to reporting

The Stats

32%

of women report being sexually harassed while working as a musician.

(* Musicians’ Census, “Women Musicians Insight Report,” 2024)

94%

of Black, Black British, Caribbean, or African musicians experienced discrimination.

(*Dignity at work 2: Discrimination in the music sector,” Independent Society of Musicians, 2023)

£4,000

is the disability pay gap, based on mean income for musicians earning 100% of their income from music.

(*Musicians’ Census, “Disabled Musicians Insight Report,” 2024)

STRATEGIES FOR STAYING SAFE

Because harm, discrimination and exploitation have become so normalised, young creatives are having to find their own ways to stay safe in the music industry. Many rely on gut instinct and past experience, while being told to “grow a thick skin” and simply get on with it.